It is critical for the US to invest in the Arctic
General James Jones and General Joseph Ralston
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016 | 2:39 PM ETCNBC.com
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Offshore oil rig
Alison M. Jones | Getty Images
As ice gives way to navigable ocean, the U.S. Coast Guard has estimated that there has been a 300-percent increase in human activity in the Arctic, requiring a new era of public-private partnership. These changing conditions raise the strategic stakes and offer unprecedented new opportunities and challenges for U.S. interests.
On the one hand, melting sea ice will create cheaper, faster shipping lanes between the world's major markets and unlock Arctic energy development, creating a race for 22 percent of the world's undiscovered resources — many of which lie within U.S. waters. On the other hand, increased sea traffic, overlapping territorial claims, and competing economic interests raise important questions about sovereignty, freedom of navigation, and lawful resource development, necessitating stronger regulations and closer international cooperation.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/09/it-is-critical-for-the-us-to-invest-in-the-arctic-commentary.html
